Schemmerhofen

Infobox German Location
name=Schemmerhofen
image_photo = Schemmerhofen.jpg
image_coa = Schemmerhofen Wappen.png state = Baden-Württemberg
regbzk = Tübingen
district =Biberach
population = 7638
population_as_of = 2008-03-31
area = 50.21
elevation = 520
lat_deg=48 | lat_min=10 | lat_hem=N
lon_deg=9 | lon_min=47 | lon_hem=E
postal_code = 88433
area_code = 07356
licence = BC
mayor = Eugen Engler
website = [http://www.schemmerhofen.de/ schemmerhofen.de]

Schemmerhofen is a municipality in the district of Biberach in Upper Swabia.

Geography

Schemmerhofen is situated 9 km (6 miles) north of Biberach an der Riß. The formerly autonomous villages of Schemmerberg, Ingerkingen, Altheim, Aßmannshardt and Alberweiler are administratively part of Schemmerhofen. The municipality of Schemmerhofen has a total population of 7646.

History

chemmerhofen

It is impossible to determine today whether the place "Scammara", mentioned in a document of 851, referred to Langenschemmern or Schemmerberg. The mentioning of "ad Scammares" in 1095, "Schamern" in 1127, "Scammun" in 1242 and "Krutschemmern" in 1319, all indicate that no distinction was made between the two places, located in close proximity. Only in 1361 "Landenschammar" is referred to for the first time.

From the end of the 14th century onwards, a distinction was made between "Oberschemmern" and "Unterschemmern" (Upper and Lower Schemmern), even though the shortened name "Schemmern" as well as the name used today was mentioned. The word "Schemmern" is related to the word "Schiene", referring to the reedbeds in the valley of the river Riß.

Originally, the hamlets of "Aufhofen" and "Langenschemmern" formed a single political entity. However, after the annexation by the newly formed Kingdom of Württemberg in 1806, the inhabitants of Aufhofen wished to secede from Langenschemmern. Since the properties of the inhabitants were spread over the territories of both villages, it took until 1843 for the separation to be concluded.

Currently, Schemmerhofen has a population of 2928.

Schemmerberg

Schemmerberg has a population of 1220.

First mentioned in 1267 as "Schamerberg", the village had its own parish church Saint Martin by 1275. However, the origin of this church dates back to the period of the christianization of Upper Swabia in the Early Middle Ages.

Originally belonging to the Herren of Schaemmern, the village was divided in the late Middle Ages: one part belonged to the Counts of Wartstein, the other to the Herren of Sulmetingen. Both dynasties held the land rights as vassals of the Austrian house of Habsburg. The Counts of Wartstein sold their rights bit by bit to the Imperial Abbey Salem during the 13th and 14th century. When Jakob and Sebastian von Sulmetingen also sold their possessions in Schemmerberg to the Imperial Abbey Salem in 1496, the whole village was owned by this abbey. As part of Salem Abbey, Schemmerberg fell under the jurisdiction of the bailiffs of Upper Swabia, who resided in Altdorf. Due to the distance to Altdorf, King Maximilian I granted Salem the right to establish a legal court in Schemmerberg in 1497.

During the Peasants' Revolt, the Baltringer Haufe destroyed the castle on 26 March 1525, after the resident monks had fled to Biberach an der Riss.

In 1742, Salem Abbey received the privilege to inflict high justice.

Following the Reichsdeputationshauptschluss, the mediatisation and secularisation of numerous secular and ecclesiastical principalities within the former Holy Roman Empire, both parts of Schemmerberg first fell to the princely house of Thurn and Taxis, only to be annexed by the newly formed Kingdom of Württemberg in 1806.

On January 1 1974, Schemmerberg voluntarily became part of the municipality of Schemmerhofen.

Ingerkingen

Ingerkingen has a population of 1194.

Ingerkingen is a village situated along the road connecting the former Free Imperial Cities Biberach and Ehingen. This road was of Roman origin.

The existence of a local aristocratic dynasty was first documented when, in 1246, Friedrich von Magenbuch transferred ownership of a demesne to the Imperial Abbey of Salem. In the course of this transaction, the brothers Konrad and Hermann von Ingerichingen renounced their rights to the demesne. Furthermore, several members of the local aristocracy appeared as witnesses in documents: in 1263 and 1286 a certain Konrad von Ingerichingen and in 1298 a certain Dietherus von Ingiringen. In 1314 Reinhard von Ingerichingen donated farms in the hamlet of Edenbachen to the Imperial Ochsenhausen Abbey.

Although Ingerkingen was under the jurisdiction of the Austrian house of Habsburg, the Imperial Knight of Stadion were enfeoffed with this right. When a royal decree on 10 December 1494 extended this jurisdiction to all inhabitants of Ingerkingen, a long-lasting conflict with the monastery of Buchau and the Imperial City of Biberach ensued, both of which feared this would infringe the rights they held in Ingerkingen. This was only resolved when Hans-Walter von Stadion sold the rights of low and high justice together with six farms of varying size to Biberach on 5 April 1526. The Imperial City of Biberach was to be the owner of Ingerkingen until 1801, when, as a result of the Treaty of Lunéville, the village fell to the Margrave of Baden, Charles Frederick, only to be annexed by the newly formed Kingdom of Württemberg in 1806.

On 1 January 1975, Ingerkingen was incorporated into the municipality of Schemmerhofen.

Altheim

Altheim has a population of 686.

First mentioned in 851, Altheim is believed to be a Frankish foundation.

After having belonged to the territory of the Imperial Knight of Warthausen and their successors, the Counts of Wartenstein during the 13th and 14th centuries, the ownership of the village became divided between several entities. In 1304, parts of the village came into the ownership of the Imperial Abbey of Salem. The rest of the village belonged to the dynasty of the Imperial Knight of Stadion. This part was transferred into the possession of the Imperial Knight of Schienen zu Gammerschwang in 1505, who in turn transferred it to the Imperial Knight of Stauffenbergin 1591. On 12 November 1621, Hans Christoph Schenk von Stauffenberg sold half the village to the Imperial Abbey of Salem.

The development of the village was heavily influenced by these incessant partitions of rulership.In 1699, Altheim counted 12 houses belonging to the Imperial Abbey of Salem, 33 houses to the Imperial Knight of Stauffenberg and 2 houses to the monastery of Buchau.

Together with Schemmerberg, Altheim first fell to the princely house of Thurn and Taxis, following the Reichsdeputationshauptschluss, only to be annexed by the newly formed Kingdom Württemberg in 1806.

On 1 January 1975, Altheim was incorporated into the municipality of Schemmerhofen.

Aßmannshardt

Aßmannshardt has a population of 865.

Aßmannshardt was first mentioned as "Aßmundeshart" around 1180 in the Codex Hirsaugiensis, a book which systematically recorded all donations to Hirsau Abbey. Evidence of earlier settlement has been discovered in several tumuli which were dated to the Hallstadt culture. The name of the village contains the elements of a personal name "Asmunt" and the word "hart" which means forest or meadow.

Toponomic evidence, such as "Leithauser Wiesen", "Lindacher-Weg-Ösch" and "Aufhofer Weiher", suggests that there were more settlements on the territorry that now constitutes the village of Aßmannshardt. Another name of a village now los tis mentioned when during the late Middle Ages a conflict arose between the parish Aßmannshardt and Attenweiler regarding the rights held in "Husshoven".

A local aristocratic dynasty was first recorded at the end of the 13th century when, in 1288, Konrad Schenk von Asmushard donated a meadow in Altheim. After 1300, the village was held by Seneschal Walter von Warthausen as a fief from Count Walter von Landau. Together with Warthausen, the village was sold to the house of Habsburg in 1331. It remained under the ultimate sovereignty of the house of Habsurg until 1806, being part of the barony of Warthausen. Warthausen, having been mortgaged several times, finally came into the possession of the Imperial City of Biberach in 1446 only to be released from Biberach's rule after the Protestan Reformation was introduced there. In 1529, Martin Schad of Mittelbiberach acquired the rights to Warthasuen and the village of Aßmannshardt. His family owned the village until they died out in the agnatic line in 1696, after which the Counts of Stadion were enfoeffed with Warthausen and thereby also Aßmannshardt.

During the Thirty Years War 1618-1648, Aßmannshardt was devastated. Most of the inhabitants died of war, pestilence and starvation. The village itself was burnt down. In order to repopulate the village, settlers from the Alps were introduced, mostly from Montafon and Vorarlberg. In 1662, there was not a single inhabitant who had either been born or brought up in the village.

The barony, which officially had been part of the Kingdom of Württemberg since 1806, was sold to the state on 16 January 1826 by Johann Philipp Eduard von Stadion, thereby relinquishing all seigneurial rights.

On 1 January 1975, Altheim was incorporated into the municipality of Schemmerhofen.

Alberweiler

Alberweiler has a population of 753.

There is evidence to suggest that the village was founded in the 8th or 9th century. In the 11th century, Alberweiler consisted of seven fishermen's huts, a chapel and a castle. In 1092 a parish church was mentioned. Alberweiler was subject to the Counts of Warthausen, a collateral line of which had its residence there, until 1585, when it came into the possession of the Counts of Stadion.

The hamlet of "Grafenwald" belonged to Alberweiler. Originally owned by the Counts of Berg, the forest was cleared in 1581 and, following further clearing in 1683, was farmed by four tennants.

On 1 January 1975, Altheim was incorporated into the municipality of Schemmerhofen.

Government and politics

Municipal council

The municipal council consist of 20 councillors, representing the whole municipality. They are elected for a five-year term. The council is chaired by the mayor.

International links

*flagicon|Austria Alberschwende
*flagicon|France Groslay
*flagicon|Austria Nofels

Economy, industry and infrastructure

Industry

Schemmerhofen is a predominantly agricultural municipality. There is no large scale industry.

Traffic

Schemmerhofen is situated on the Bundesstraße 465 as well as on the railway line Ulm-Friedrichshafen. The resepective station is Schemmerberg. The station Langenschemmern is only used by freight trains, transporting sand and gravel.

Leisure

* Lake near Alberweiler

Attractions

* Aßmannshardt: parish church Saint Michael
* Aufhofen: pilgrimage church, called "Käppele" (little chapel).
* Langenschemmern: parish church Saint Maurice, containing 14th century murals.

Notable people from Schemmerhofen

* Joseph Cades (1855–1943), church architect (born in Altheim).

References

* Krezdorn, Siegfried & Schahl, Adolf, "Schemmerhofen: Alberweiler, Altheim, Aßmannshardt, Aufhofen, Ingerkingen, Langenschemmern, Schemmerberg", Sigmaringen, 1980
* Steim, Karl Werner, "750 Jahre Alberweiler", Schemmerhofen, 2000
* Weiler, Fritz, "900 Jahre Aßmannshardt, 700 Jahre Pfarrei Sankt Michael. Rückblick und Gegenwartsaufnahme", Biberach an der Riss, 1980

ee also

* Upper Swabia

External links

* [http://www.schemmerhofen.de/ Official webpage of Schemmerhofen (in German)]
* [http://www.assmannshardt.de/ Official webpage of Aßmannshardt (in German)]